Sweet Possession

CHAPTER 21

Lyric was sitting in the kitchen with Connor eating a cupcake when Kane stalked into the kitchen, a grim expression in his face. Her heart sank. What could it be now? She tensed, ready to go on the offensive.

Connor simply placed his hand over hers, a gesture that calmed her considerably.

“Your manager is here and demands to see you,” Kane said. “Want me to get rid of him?”

He said it in such a way that sent chills down Lyric’s spine. She could envision Kane stuffing him into a trunk and disposing of his body. He looked serious enough to actually be contemplating it.

She sighed. “No. Let him come up. I need to deal with this.”

Connor frowned, but this time it was she who put her hand over his.

“I’m coming with you,” Connor muttered. “That son of a bitch better be respectful or I’m going to take him apart.”

Lyric smiled and stood. “I can take care of myself, though I appreciate the sentiment.”

Still, Connor followed her into the living room, where they waited as Kane disappeared outside the house. A few moments later, Kane returned, walking ahead of two of his men.

Paul was held between the two bodyguards and he was steaming mad. His face was red and puffed up with visible anger. When the two men flanking him finally let him go, he shook and then lunged away from them, rubbing his arm as he glared at the offenders.

“Lyric, what the hell is going on here?” he demanded. “This is completely unacceptable! Who are these men to tell me what I can or can’t do? They manhandled me! I’m going to sue!”

Lyric rolled her eyes, then crossed her arms over her chest and stared at the man who’d controlled the better part of her life for the past several years.

“You’re fired, Paul.”

Her calm words had the effect of a gunshot. Paul recoiled and his mouth fell open. It worked up and down but nothing came out for several long seconds. Then he exploded.

“Fired? Fired? You can’t fire me.”

“The hell she can’t,” Connor shot back.

Again she put a hand on Connor’s arm. He quieted and stepped back to allow her to continue.

Maybe it was the calm in her eyes or her demeanor. Paul went from furious to placating and pleading in a nanosecond.

“You can’t fire me, Lyric. You owe me. I put you on the map. We’re a team, you and me. Look, I’m sorry for the things I said, but you know I was just looking out for you. I want what’s best for you.”

Lyric glanced at Connor and smiled. He winked, and she drew strength from that small gesture. Connor was right. He was absolutely right and she’d never seen it until he pushed.

She turned back to Paul. “I don’t owe you anything. I paid you for services rendered. That’s the only compensation I owed you. From this point forward our relationship is severed. You won’t be allowed access to me in the future. If you have anything at all to say, you can contact Phillip or my lawyer.”

Paul’s shock turned to ugly, black fury. He took a step forward and pointed a finger close to her face. “You won’t get away with this, Lyric. I know too much about you. I’ll bury you.”

Connor and Kane both stepped in front of Lyric. The two security men took hold of Paul’s arms. Connor waved them off.

“Let me give you a piece of advice,” Connor bit out. “Don’t threaten Lyric ever. There isn’t a place on this earth you can hide from me.”

“Or me,” Kane interjected.

“If you do anything, if you say anything, with the intent of damaging Lyric’s career, her reputation or her personally, I’ll hunt you down and I’ll take you apart piece by piece.”

“You’re threatening me!”

“You’re damn right, I am. And if you think I’m just blowing smoke up your ass, I invite you to try me. I’m not much on words but I sure as hell will kick your sorry ass if you utter so much as a peep. You got me?”

Paul’s face lost color. His eyes darted back and forth between Kane and Connor and he sagged like a deflated balloon.

“Get him out of here,” Connor ordered.

Lyric watched as Paul was hauled out of the living room. She felt an odd sense of elation. As if she’d lost the ten pounds that Paul had complained about. She felt ridiculously light and freaking giddy.

She smiled broadly as Connor and Kane both turned their attention back to her.

“I don’t suppose either of you know of a good manager, do you?”

Kane actually cracked a smile. She was surprised his face didn’t crumble with the effort. Connor slipped an arm around her and hugged her to him.

“I’m proud of you for taking a stand, Lyric. The bastard needed his ass kicked.”

“Would you really hunt him down?” she asked curiously.

Connor frowned. “Hell yeah.”

“Thank you,” she said as her grin got bigger. She turned to include Kane. “Thank you both.”

“I can make his life miserable for him if you want,” Kane offered.

“You’re not even joking, are you,” Lyric muttered.

“Nope. I don’t have a sense of humor.”

At that, Lyric chuckled.

Her cell phone went off and she sighed. “The man works fast. He must have speed-dialed Phillip on his way out the door.”

“So don’t answer,” Connor said.

Lyric stared down at the phone in her hand. Then she looked back up and grinned. “Anyone up for another cupcake?”

“Did he make chocolate?” Kane asked in a hopeful voice.